Selective Synthesis: New Reagents for Specific Transformations Champery, June 6-9, 2001
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CONFERENCE REPORT 732 CHIMIA 2001, 55, No.9 CONFERENCE REPORT Chimia 55 (2001) 732-736 © Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft ISSN 0009-4293 Selective Synthesis: New Reagents for Specific Transformations Champery, June 6-9, 2001 Christian G. Bochet* Keywords: CERC3 . Champery . European chemistry' Organic synthesis· Workshop The chairmen of the European Re- from the chiral centers, had a strong im- The day was concluded with the first search Councils' Chemistry Committees pact on the geometry of the dimeric cata- plenary lecture, by Professor Varinder (CERC3) elected organic synthesis as lyst; these effects could be so strong that Aggarwal (University of Bristol, UK). this year's topic for their annual work- similar catalysts varying only by one sub- He explained the asymmetric epoxida- shop, and Switzerland as the host coun- stituent gave opposite enantiomers [1]. tion reaction, in which, instead of using try. The conference chairman, Prof. The afternoon session was concluded the classical strategy (i.e. oxidation of an Philippe Renaud made the excellent by Petri Pihko (The Scripps Research In- alkene), the key step is a carbon-carbon choice of Champery for hosting the stitute, La Jolla, USA), on the synthesis bond forming process (the so-called Co- workshop; the combination of his enthu- of Azaspiracid (Fig. 1), a very potent tox- rey-Chaykovsky epoxidation). The beau- siasm, efficient organization and the in, isolated from Irish mussels. The FGHI ty of this reaction, very simple in its ex- beautiful alpine scenery made this meet- spirocyclic portion proved to be a very perimental realization, is revealed by the ing a really unique event. Its success challenging pattern to assemble, particu- intricate catalytic cycles orchestrated like clearly arose from the scientific program, larly with the presence of acid-sensitive clockwork. Detailed mechanistic studies, which was particularly exciting. Thirty- ketal groups. After several attempts at re- including catalyst structure/activity rela- one half-hour lectures from young chem- designing the route without success, tionships and computational modeling ists, mostly at the beginning of their inde- Pihko showed how the azaspiro moiety were presented to rationalize the origin of pendent research careers were comple- the enantioselectivity. In the last part of mented by three plenary lectures from his lecture, Aggarwal showed that this re- prominent, established professors in Eu- action was not limited to epoxidation, but rope. can be applied also to aziridination or The first lecture was given by Bernd cyc1opropanation [3]. Goldfuss (University of Heidelberg, Ger- HO Transition metal asymmetric catalysis many), focusing on the use of modular was central to the first part of the Thurs- fencholates as probes for studying the day morning session, starting with enantioselective addition of organozinc Giuseppe Mantovani (IS SEC Firenze, reagents to benzaldehyde. High-level Italy). The methoxycarbonylation of sty- computational modeling of the transition rene (i.e. the reaction of styrene with car- Azaspiracid structure revealed that subtle changes of bon monoxide and methanol) was inves- substituents on the ligand, even remote tigated under Pd catalysis with various Fig. 1 phosphorous ligands. It was found that was eventually prepared efficiently. The small changes in the ligand structure in- 'northern part' ABCDE proved to be just duced dramatic changes in the reaction as challenging; despite intensive efforts, outcome. For example, the classical 'Correspondence: Dr. e.G. Bochet to date, it has only been partially pre- Pd(dppe)(MeCNh yielded exclusively Department of Organic Chemistry methyl cinnamate (the expected product), University of Geneva pared. These synthetic problems show 30 quai Ernest-Ansermet once again that total synthesis remains an whereas a dimeric analogue of 2,3-dppd CH-1211 Geneva 4 art, and that it should not be taken for (1,2,3,4 tetrakis(diphenylphosphino) cy- Tel.: +41 227026288 Fax; +41 22 328 73 96 granted that any molecule can now be c1obutane) led mainly to the formation of E-Mail: [email protected] easily synthesized [2]. dimethyl phenyl succinate [4]. CONFERENCE REPORT 733 CHIMIA 2001, 55, NO.9 The field was then expanded by Si- with the preparation of heterocyclic ana- ical translocation, where the halide is lo- mon Breeden (National University of logues of rubicene. These molecules cated on the aromatic ring (e.g. in a 0- Ireland, Galway), showing the versatile were shown to exhibit interesting photo- bromoanilide). Upon initiation, the aryl activity of the chiral ESPHOS (Fig. 2) physical and electronic properties, and radical abstracts the hydrogen on the and semi-ESPHOS ligands. They were are potentially useful as dyes in laser amide, forming a new radical, which is used in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric olefin technology. Smet also discussed the use then capable to cyclize. Excellent yields hydroformylation, Pd-catalyzed asym- of diketopyrrolopyrroles as fluorophores were obtained in these cases [10]. metric allylic substitution and amination, for calcium ion sensors [7]. Andreas Gansauer (University of and in eu-catalyzed conjugate addition Also interesting was the work pre- Bonn, Germany) showed how epoxides of organozinc compounds to enones [5]. sented by Reko Leino (Abo Academy, could be very efficient radical precursors Finland). Solid support chemistry is usu- when treated with a titanocene dichloride Ph ally carried out on polymeric matrices catalyst, in the presence of a stoichiomet- (e.g. polystyrene beads), prepared by ric reductant. Such ~-a]koky radicals can grafting or co-polymerizing with the then add to olefins or a,~-unsaturated es- molecule of interest. The drawbacks of ters. Tethering the radical acceptor to the this approach are poor thermal stability epoxide allowed the formation of oxy- and low mechanical resistance. Other gen- and nitrogen-containing polycyclic Ph types of solid supports lacking these heterocycles [11]. ~ !J drawbacks are the fibrous polymers. Titanium complexes were also central These fibers (of length up to 2 mm) can to the research presented by Olivier ESPHOS be exposed to an electron beam generat- Riant (Universite Catholique de Louvain, ing radicals able to react with the suitable Belgium), but this time for asymmetric Fig. 2 modifier. This technology is already rou- catalysis, as salen-type complexes. These tinely used for textile processing. A spec- easily prepared, air-stable complexes The first part of the Thursday morn- tacular example was the immobilization were able to catalyze the asymmetric pi- ing session was concluded by an interest- of a TADDOL-ligand by this technique. nacol coupling of aldehydes, in excellent ing lecture from Peter Langer (Universi- This solid catalyst was then tested on the diastereoselectivity (90%), and encour- ty of Gottingen, Germany), focusing on enantioselective addition of diethylzinc aging enantioselectivity (up to 77% ee). the regio- and stereoselective cyclization to benzaldehyde in the presence ofTi(rv). Riant then went on to discuss the hydrosi- of dianions with dielectrophiles. The ele- The enantiomeric ratio of 97:3 was con- lation of ketones with triphenylsilane, in gance of the concept resides in its appar- stant, even after several cycles [8]. the presence of copper fluoride. When a ent simplicity. However, making it a re- Christian Bochet (University of Ge- binaphthyl-derived chiral ligand was gia- and stereoselecti ve reaction is by no neva) closed the morning session, in a used, enantioselectivities went up to 80% means trivial. For example, the dianion lecture dealing with the selective activa- ee. Such a transformation was found to of ethyl acetoacetate cleanly reacted with tion of functional groups using mono- be very practical, and no protection from the bis-Weinreb amide derived from chromatic light. In this approach, the se- air and moisture is required. oxalic acid, to give an y-alkylidene-a-hy- lectivity does not arise from elements After the coffee break, Goran Hil- droxybutenolide with a geometric purity contained in the substrate or the reagent, mersson (University of Goteborg, Swe- greater than 98% (E). On the other hand, but from the wavelength of a monochro- den), detailed the addition of chiral ami- the related bis-silylenolether reacted with matic light beam. The clean and smooth noethers to butyllithium, forming Cz- diacetyl in the presence of titanium tetra- orthogonal deprotection of photosensi- symmetric amide dimers in diethylether chloride to give a highly functionalized tive protecting groups was shown as an solution. The addition of THF broke cyc1opentenone (Scheme 1). Langer went example [9]. these aggregates, and only monomers on to describe the reaction of l,l-dian- The afternoon session was opened by were detected by Li-NMR. Semi-empiri- ions with the same type of 1,2-dielec- John Storey (University of Kingston, cal calculation at the PM3 level, NMR trophile leading to complex heterocyclic UK). He presented his recent results on study and structure/activity analysis structures [6]. the preparation of oxindoles and spiro- complemented these studies. In a second The second part of the morning was oxindoles by radical cyclization. The part, Hilmersson examined the properties dedicated to more multidisciplinary as- classical approach, which involves the of I-lithioacetonitrile. Indeed, these com- pects of organic synthesis, in particular cyclization of a-bromoanilides, has been pounds are known to show an imide char-